05/07/2026
This is, without doubt, one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to write, make & been avoiding for some time!!!
After years of memories, laughter, hard work and incredible friendships, the time has come for me to close the doors of Cinnamon Lounge & Dining for the final time. š¢š„ŗ
For me, Cinnamon has never just been a restaurant. It has been my second home, my passion and, in many ways, my life. It has been a place where strangers became friends, birthdays and anniversaries were celebrated, families came together, first dates turned into lasting relationships, and countless memories were created around our tables.
Over the years we have shared triumphs and challenges, laughter and tears, but through everything there has always been one constantā¦ you.
To every customer who chose to spend an evening with us, thank you. To everyone who recommended us, celebrated lifeās milestones with us, supported us during difficult times, or simply kept coming back year after year, you became so much more than customers. You became part of the Cinnamon family.
From the very beginning, I wanted Cinnamon to be more than just somewhere to eat. I wanted it to be somewhere people felt welcome, valued and at home especially with the aesthetics & playlist ( my love for R&B š¶)
One of the achievements Iām most proud of was introducing our dedicated vegan menu. At the time it was a huge challenge and a real leap of faith, but it became a phenomenal success. We were proud to become the first ever in the entire UK to be a Bengali-run restaurant to offer a dedicated four-page vegan menu, whilst also making it a priority to cater for customers with food intolerances and allergies. Seeing people who often struggled to find somewhere they could dine safely and confidently leave with a smile was incredibly rewarding. Everyone deserved a place at our table, and I hope we achieved that.
Iām equally proud that Cinnamon became a business that gave back. Over the years weāve supported local charities, raised money for worthy causes, contributed to the Royal United Hospital Bath, supported countless local schools, sports clubs and businesses, and always tried to play our part within this wonderful community. Being able to give something back to the people who supported us has been one of my greatest privileges, this means you Tattās & Marshy!!!
To every member of staff, past and present, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You gave your time, your passion, your patience and your loyalty to help make Cinnamon what it became. The early mornings, the late nights, the pressure during busy services, the laughter in the kitchen and the friendships weāve built are memories I will treasure forever. Abi, Lily, Leanne, Kye, Mizan, and so many others have all left their mark on Cinnamon, and I simply couldnāt have done it without every one of you.
For me personally, Cinnamon has been my life. I was often the first through the door each morning and the last to lock up at night. Days off became rare, early mornings became normal, and late nights became expected. Every decision carried the responsibility of keeping the doors open for another day. I poured everything I had into this restaurant because I genuinely caredānot just about the food we served, but about every person who walked through our door
Like so many businesses, we faced uncertainty unlike anything weād ever known, COVID!!!
There were moments when I genuinely wondered if weād survive. But thanks to the unwavering support of our loyal customers, the dedication of my incredible team and the kindness shown by this community, we made it through together. I will never forget that.
Sadly, the years that followed brought a different battle. Spiralling food prices, soaring energy bills, rising wages, increasing overheads, the burden of VAT and the ongoing cost of living crisis have made life incredibly difficult for independent restaurants across the country. Hospitality is built on passion, but passion alone cannot overcome every obstacle.
Behind the scenes, the constant pressure has also taken its toll on me personally. Running a business through COVID and navigating the years that followed has affected not only my health, but my mental wellbeing too. The sleepless nights, the uncertainty and the responsibility of protecting jobs while trying to keep Cinnamon alive slowly drained my energy and, at times, my soul. It wasnāt easy prepping that smile prior to walking through those doors but i know i made this into a successful & thriving business.
I do feel like i have failed but i think Iāve given absolutely everything i had but the challenging changes due our economy and the type of politics we have in our country couldnāt sustain our local community business.
During these incredibly challenging years, I have also been fortunate to have the unwavering support of the Ollis family, and Richard Ollis in particular. When times became increasingly difficult, they never stopped looking for ways to help me sustain Cinnamon for as long as possible. They explored every avenue, offered understanding, encouragement and genuine support. Having landlords of their calibre is something that is truly rare. Richard cared not only about the business, but about the people behind it and the role Cinnamon played within Keynsham. His kindness, patience and belief in me during some of the toughest periods have been second to none, and I will always be grateful.
I also owe a heartfelt thank you to Simon Rodway, whose guidance, financial advice and unwavering support helped steer the business through some incredibly difficult times. His professionalism, honesty and belief in me gave me strength when I needed it most.
To the friends who quietly gave up their evenings and weekends to carry out maintenance, repairs and all the unseen jobs that kept Cinnamon runningā Lee, Karl, Luigi, Sam, Nes, Dave, i thank you thank you and I will never forget your generosity.
To our suppliers ( Haroon @ Pakeeza ) ( The Entire Bookers Family ) ( Raja Foods ) thank you for standing beside us. Many of you became far more than suppliersāyou became friends. During the hardest times you remained loyal, worked with us on pricing wherever possible and helped us continue serving our customers. That loyalty will never be forgotten.
When people ask me what Iāll miss the most, the answer isnāt the building, the kitchen or even the business itself.
The best thing about Cinnamon has always been you.
The friendships weāve built, the loyal customers who became lifelong friends, the families Iāve watched grow, the conversations weāve shared and the community that embraced us from day one mean more to me than words can ever express. ( Actually crying at this point ffs š¢š© )
OUR FINAL DAY OF TRADING WILL BE SUNDAY 12TH JULY.
Between now and then, I would love nothing more than to see as many of you as possible. Please come in one last time. Share a meal, tell us your favourite memory, have a chat, share a laugh and help us celebrate everything Cinnamon has meant over the years. Most importantly, come and say goodbyeānot just to me, but to the incredible team who have stood beside me throughout this journey, including Abi, Lily, Leanne, Mizan, and everyone who has been part of the Cinnamon family. It would mean the world to all of us to thank you personally.
As I close this chapter, there is one final thing I want to say.
People may remember the meals we served, but I will always remember the people who shared them.
You werenāt just our customersāyou became our, my friends, our extended family and the reason I came back every single day, even when times were at their hardest but my quality of life has to improve.
Thank you, Keynsham, for believing in Cinnamon and for giving me some of the happiest memories of my life. ā¤ļøš„ŗ
I leave with a heavy heart, but also with immense pride. Together, we built something far greater than a restaurant. We built friendships, supported one another, helped our community, created memories and shared moments that none of us will ever forget.
If Cinnamon leaves behind one legacy, I hope it isnāt remembered simply for the food we served, but for the people we welcomed, the community we supported, the friendships we created, and the belief that everyone deserved a place at our table.
From the bottom of my heartā¦
Thank you.
With all my gratitude and heartfelt thanks,
Ami
Proud Owner of Cinnamon Lounge & Dining
PS. Penny Buckland thank you for being you !! ā¤ļø
